Three siblings have been arrested in Patra, western Greece, on charges of stealing rails weighing an estimated 1.5 tons from the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) network in the area of Arachovitika.

According to initial reports the three male suspects, a 23-year-old and two aged 25, allegedly removed 19 rails from the tracks and loaded them on to the formerís truck.

A member of the public subsequently spotted the vehicle on the old Patra-Athens national highway and alerted the police.